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Prof. Rickett’s research focuses on the investigation of the fundamental performance limitations of microelectronic circuits. His research crosses the fields of device physics, material science, physics and circuit design, investigating the ultimate capabilities of microelectronic devices and how these are harnessed by differing circuit topologies to produce the highest performing systems. His research covers a wide range of areas, including Si and Polymer nanowire FETs, RF graphene circuits, Spinwave devices as well as nonlinear circuits, high-speed ADCs, neural networks and energy conversion.

Analog-to-digital Converters Theory & Design

Current Projects

Surface Acoustic Wave Active Bearing

In this research we propose the investigation of a novel mechanical interface which we call the surface acoustic wave active bearing (SAW-AB). Tribology has long been a serious concern at the sliding mechanical interface and numerous efforts have been made to understand and control the tribology in the interface design. Our a new approach uses surface acoustic waves (SAW) to create a direct contact interface with zero effective friction between two surfaces moving at high relative velocities. This is the opposite of ultrasonic motors (USM), which use SAW and friction to create forces between two surfaces. In the SAW-AB both surfaces move relative to one another and the contact point does not move, however. The creation of zero-velocity contact points eliminates the need for lubricants and concerns about friction and also enables a host of new applications. The SAW-AB in essence is an active mechanical bearing. More...

Magneto-Track System: 3-D Tracking of an American Football Location and Orientation. Referees may soon have a new way of determining whether a football team has scored a touchdown or gotten a first down. Researchers from North Carolina State University and Carnegie Mellon University, in collaboration with Disney Research, have developed a system that can track a football in three-dimensional space using low-frequency magnetic fields.More…

Tip-directed, Field-emission Assisted Nanofabrication (TFAN) This uses tip-directed field emission chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for the precise fabrication of structures on the nanometer scale. Device geometry will be accurately determined by probe manipulation and controlled energy delivery at the probe tip.More…

Spin-torque Driven Oscillators for Spectrum Agile RF In this research we investigate an emerging class of oscillators known as spin-torque oscillators (STOs). Similar to YIG oscillators, the oscillating mechanism is a gyromagnetic procession of magnetic moment in a DC bias field.More…

Soliton electronics Solitons are specialized nonlinear waves that propagate in nonlinear, dispersive media. They are found throughout nature in water waves, plasma, optical fibers and superconducting josephson junctions.More…

Current Projects

Magneto-Track System: 3-D Tracking of an American Football Location and Orientation. Referees may soon have a new way of determining whether a football team has scored a touchdown or gotten a first down. Researchers from North Carolina State University and Carnegie Mellon University, in collaboration with Disney Research, have developed a system that can track a football in three-dimensional space using low-frequency magnetic fields.More…

Tip-directed, Field-emission Assisted Nanofabrication (TFAN) This uses tip-directed field emission chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for the precise fabrication of structures on the nanometer scale. Device geometry will be accurately determined by probe manipulation and controlled energy delivery at the probe tip.More…

Spin-torque Driven Oscillators for Spectrum Agile RF In this research we investigate an emerging class of oscillators known as spin-torque oscillators (STOs). Similar to YIG oscillators, the oscillating mechanism is a gyromagnetic procession of magnetic moment in a DC bias field.More…

Soliton electronics Solitons are specialized nonlinear waves that propagate in nonlinear, dispersive media. They are found throughout nature in water waves, plasma, optical fibers and superconducting josephson junctions.More…